Laura’s body had worked hard for her and her family. So, after giving birth to two children, she was planning to have a breast lift and implants. But she also realized that, after the breast surgery, her tummy would not match her new breasts. Even after working hard to lose the baby weight, there was loose skin she couldn’t seem to diet or exercise away.

That’s why Laura decided to add a tummy tuck to her breast surgery. We asked Laura to tell us about her tummy tuck experience, and she offered some sage advice.

Finding the Right Surgeon for a Tummy Tuck

Once Laura decided she wanted to have the surgery, she got recommendations from friends for a surgeon. The surgeon they suggested had a lot of accolades, but Laura felt uncomfortable with him. This surgeon wanted to use a procedure for her breasts that she felt was too new, and there wasn’t enough data to support using it.

Laura, explains, “I found Dr. Slack online and read all the reviews. After the consultation with him I felt he was more thorough and cautious of any new things where he didn’t have a ten-year outcome and research. I liked that he was more careful and cautious, and also he took a lot of time in the consultation to explain all the complications and considerations, not just trying to tell me, ‘Yeah, we can fix this for you.’”

Preparing for Tummy Tuck Surgery

Once Laura found her surgeon, she focused on preparing for the surgery and recovery ahead. As the mother of two young children, there were quite a few preparations to make. She made sure to have help lined up for them, and that her husband understood that she wouldn’t be able to manage her usual tasks during her recovery.

She spent time reading online patient stories and talking to friends who had had tummy tuck surgery previously. This gave her an idea of what to expect from the patient’s perspective.

“I had a good friend who had just had it, so she was able to help me get some ideas of how much time for recovery and what was needed. So researching helped and asking friends helped.”

Laura is a healthcare professional, so she was already living a healthy lifestyle. But she made extra efforts in this area as she prepared for surgery. “Before the surgery I was extremely clean on my diet, making sure I didn’t have too much caffeine or any red wine for two weeks prior. Things like that, just to make sure I was just very healthy before I went in.”

Tummy Tuck Recovery

After surgery, Laura saw immediately just how great her results were going to be. “You could immediately say it was awesome. It was so flat and so perfect, so I could tell that it would be good.” But she was a bit surprised at the level of pain immediately after her tummy tuck. “Everybody told me it was really tough, and [Dr. Slack] even was honest that it was extremely difficult. And it was extremely difficult for the first three or four days.

“I just want people to know the first three days are going to be really, really tough. But it’s amazing, because you feel like you’re never going to get there, and every day is a little better. And then in six weeks you’re like, “Oh, wow, I did it!”

Tummy Tuck Results

Laura was very pleased with her tummy tuck results, and her good first impression was confirmed by those around her.

“Of course I had a friend with me, supporting me there, and she said, ‘Oh my gosh, your abs are amazing.’ And even with me scrunched over and all bandaged up… my husband is like, “Wow, you look amazing.’”

Now that nine months have passed since her surgery, Laura is even more pleased.

“I mean I love it. I’m very glad that I did it. I would do it again, even with all the recovery and time. I just feel more… I guess more confident in how I look, you know? I’m more confident with my husband, being intimate, because I feel more comfortable about myself.”

Final Words of Wisdom

Laura wants people considering a tummy tuck to be prepared for the difficult few days after surgery. She compared it to waiting at a restaurant. If you have to wait for less time than the host tells you, you are pleasantly surprised. So when you go into surgery, “you want to expect it might be really hard. Then when it’s not so bad, it’s a pleasant surprise.”

Finally, Laura explains that tummy tuck surgery is worth the investment in yourself, if you are living with a tummy that bothers you.

“I would just say if someone feels that’s bothersome to them … It’s totally worth it. It’s totally worth the recovery and the time that you’re going to put into it, not to live with that.”